EXCLUSIVE: This is news Law Order: SVU fans — and series’ star/executive producer Mariska Hargitay — have been awaiting for two and a half years: Kelli Giddish is returning to the venerable NBC crime drama full-time, reprising her Amanda Rollins role as a series regular for its upcoming 27th season.

Giddish originally joined “SVU” back in its 13th season as detective Amanda Rollins. She remained with the show as a main cast member until midway through Season 24. It was explained on the show that Rollins had married ADA Sonny Carisi Jr and then taken a teaching position.

Heading into the Law & Order: SVU finale, we know two things: Benson’s ( Mariska Hargitay) squad is about to lose two detectives, Velasco ( Octavio Pisano) and Silva (Juliana Aidan Martinez), and she’s about to get her close friend, Rollins ( Kelli Giddish ), back full time in the fall.